That, in turn, was double the number of electric vehicles we had at the end of 2011 and start of 2012. No other market segment can boast such figures.

Though the figures include plug-in hybrid vehicles as well as pure battery electric cars, the numbers don't include regular hybrids, plug-in motorcycles or large vehicles like buses and trucks.

In terms of countries, the U.S. can hold its head up high, buying more plug-ins than any other country: 174,000 of them by the end of 2013. Japan (68,000) and China (45,000) are next up, with individual European countries following behind. The Netherlands alone touted 30,000 plug-ins by the end of 2013.

Topping the table of individual manufacturers is Nissan, which boasted Leaf sales of 90,000 units by the end of 2013. That number has since crossed 100,000 cars, and as April begins the total will be higher still.